The NRL wooden spooners for the last two season, who were denied a famous victory over Manly last week by a last-minute try, moved to 2-2 for the season thanks to a superb second-half display.

Recalled half-back Chris Sandow proved his worth with the boot by kicking four from six, and showed glimpses of his old self with ball in hand.

But it was new Eels folk hero Semi Radradra who proved to be the game changer scoring the crucial try just before the hour mark to give his side a lead they never relinquished.

Jarryd Hayne was the architect, firing a magnificent cut-out pass into the arms of the giant Fijian, who gave the onrushing David Simmons no chance of stopping him.

Hayne then went over from dummy-half to extend the lead before teeing up Ken Sio four minutes from time to ice the victory.

The Eels were full merit for their two points, but both sides contributed to an entertaining encounter punctuated by some moments of swashbuckling attack and some basic errors.

Willie Tonga opened the scoring after 15 minutes for the Eels, somewhat against the run of play, with his first try since round eight in 2012.

We spoke to the boys and said we have a talented player at the back but he's not getting the footy.

Brad Arthur

The former Queensland star hauled in a wayward Matt Moylan pass and raced 90 metres to score.

However, the lead was short-lived as Isaac John darted over from 20 metres and Moylan added the extras.

Nathan Peats restored the home side's lead and Will Hopoate looked to have extended the advantage by finishing off an outrageous final tackle play that produced several passes, only for the video referee to chalk it off for offside.

Dean Whare and Lewis Brown scored either side of half-time to give Penrith the lead, but the home side, inspired by Hayne, roared back to maintain their 100 per cent home record.

Arthur pleased with Eels' improvement

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur was pleased with his team's improvement.

"The things that pleased me most was our response in the second half," Arthur said.

"We completed at 95 per cent, but in the first half we didn't complete above 60 per cent.

"We spoke to the boys and said we have a talented player at the back but he's not getting the footy.

"He (Hayne) needs to get his hands on the footy, but if we are not completing our sets and turning over the ball he's not going to so it's a team effort."

They were just better at the back end of the game than us.

Ivan Cleary

Arthur's decision to recall Chris Sandow paid off with the diminutive halfback enjoying a winning return to the side.

"He was solid, some things will need to get better, but as long as he's better next week," Arthur said.

"There was some things he had to go away and work on. He went back to Wenty and did well and obviously his goalkicking helps too."

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said his side deserve to lose the game on the back of their second-half performance and had no complaints with the result.

"They were just better at the back end of the game than us," Cleary said.

"They can held their heads up they played well. It was not a good night for us, that's for sure."